Will Pipes Freeze in Howard County, TX? 5 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Howard County
In a normal year Howard County, TX gets 5 nights at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 18% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 55 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 5 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 5 nights of risk to under 1 night. A 12 ft heat-tape kit runs $17 to $37; an average burst-pipe repair is about $500.
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 11/13, last around 03/20. For 20°F: 12/27 to 02/04.
How cold Howard County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 33°F; the coldest month, January, averages 31°F overnight. 6 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 35°F | 42°F | 50°F | 60°F | 68°F | 72°F | 71°F | 64°F | 53°F | 41°F | 33°F |
Howard County next to its neighbours
Mitchell County, TX, 48 km east, gets 11 nights below 20°F to Howard County's 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County, TX | - | 55 nights | 5 nights | 31°F |
| Mitchell County, TX | 48 km east | 75 nights | 11 nights | 28°F |
| Borden County, TX | 48 km north | 56 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Glasscock County, TX | 49 km south | 73 nights | 10 nights | 29°F |
| Martin County, TX | 49 km west | 65 nights | 9 nights | 30°F |
| Sterling County, TX | 63 km southeast | 72 nights | 12 nights | 30°F |
| Dawson County, TX | 68 km northwest | 93 nights | 16 nights | 26°F |
Howard County within TX
Howard County ranks 124 of 254 TX counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Lipscomb County, TX at 57 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Cameron County, TX: none, winter lows near 54°F. At 2,556 ft, Howard County sits 1,564 ft above the state's median county elevation of 992 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Few hard nights means pipes are rarely built for them; see freezes in warm places.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Big Spring, TX, 7 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. Why elevation is part of the blend: how county numbers are made.